Past News

MFFMA morns the passing of one of their own, Brienne Heroux.

MFFMA expresses condolences to the families and departments of the following:

Delano Fire Department

Dave Citzloff a 29 year active veteran firefighter die due to cancer.

Maplewood Fire Department

Maplewood Firefighter/Paramedic Kurt Parsons. Kurt took his own life at his Cottage Grove home. Kurt worked as a paramedic in the metro area for many years before starting with the City of Maplewood in 1999 as a CSO/Paramedic. In 2005 Kurt transferred to fire department to become a Firefighter/Paramedic. Kurt was dedicated to his profession and the people he served. He will be missed.

The funeral arrangements have been setup by the family for Maplewood Firefighter/Paramedic Kurt Parsons and they are as follows:

 Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with a short service at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, November 16 at Sandberg Funeral & Cremation Services at 2593 7th Avenue East, North St. Paul. Interment will follow at Union Cemetery, 2505 East Minnehaha Avenue, Maplewood.

 A memorial fund has been established for Kurt through SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education). Use the following link below if you wish to make a donation to this organization in memory of Kurt: http://www.save.org

From the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: On 3 Oct 2004, Don J. Billig, volunteer assistant chief of the St. Cloud Fire Department will be honored at the 23rd annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service held at Emmitsburg, MD.

Don Billig, 49, died October 27, 2003, when he was struck by a vehicle after responding to a fire call at a roadside construction site. An 18-year veteran with the department, he was employed by the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud for over 27 years and was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 622. His son is also a St. Cloud volunteer firefighter.

The public ceremony will take place at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, constructed in 1981 on the grounds of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In 1990, Congress designated the Memorial as the official national monument to all fallen firefighters. The memorial service will remember firefighters from 34 states and Guam who died in the line of duty during 2003. Three firefighters who died in previous years will also be remembered. Fire service honor guard units from across the country will participate in the national tribute including three Minnesota units - Eagan Fire Department, Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial Association, and St. Paul Fire Fighters.

The public Memorial Service will begin at 10 a.m. (EDT). Many fire departments across the country will conduct simultaneous services, sound sirens at noon and observe a moment of silence. Public Law requires flags on federal office buildings to fly at half-staff on October 3 in honor of America's fallen firefighters.

The weekend ceremony concludes with the unveiling of plaques listing the names of the fallen firefighters honored this year. Plaques around the monument will now bear the names of the 2,843 firefighters who have died in the line of duty since 1981, including 29 fallen firefighters from Minnesota. The state ranks 28th in the number of fallen firefighters over the past 23 years.

Local cable channels are encouraged to carry the Sunday Memorial Service and the Saturday night Candlelight Service live via satellite. For more details, see the National Fallen Firefighters web site at www.firehero.org and more of this press release at http://216.213.151.12/s1/images/2004_MW_press_release-MN.pdf.

30 Oct 2004: MFFMA will be holding its third annual business meeting on Saturday, 30 October 2004. The day will start with our annual training starting at 09:00, place to be announced. Lunch will be provided by MFFMA and the business meeting will start right after lunch. Hutchinson Fire Department will be hosting this meeting. The meeting will start approximately at 12:30 and, hopefully, be concluded by 14:00 or 15:00.

The Minnesota Fire Service Foundation is launching a $2.5 million fundraising campaign to move the statue to the Capitol grounds and build a spacious, graceful setting to admire, remember and celebrate Minnesota's firefighters. The firefighter memorial will honor those who have lost their lives in the line of duty and recognize the brave firefighters who currently serve.

To learn more about the memorial and how to donate to its completion, visit www.mnfireservicefoundation.org.

From the South Florida Interagency Fire Management Council Web site:

What: International Firefighters' Day
When: May 4th - St Florian's Day.

St. Florian (the patron saint of all firefighters) was the first known commander of one firefighting squad in the Roman Empire. He lost his life, as well as those of his colleagues from the brigade, for protecting the same humane ideas which firefighters all over the world share even today.

Firefighters in most of the European countries celebrate their day on 4th of May as a Day of Fire Service as well as St. Florian's Day. This date is also known as a St Florian's Day worldwide and has been tradition for more than 150 years in Europe.

Reasons:
  1. To show support for all firefighters worldwide.
  2. To recognise their level of committment and dedication.
  3. To remember those lost or injured in the line of duty.
  4. As a mark of respect.
  5. To say "Thankyou".
Symbol: A piece of red and a piece of blue ribbon pinned together.

Red and blue to represent the elements we work with - fire and water. (These are also recognised internationally as emergency service colours).

Note: There is a International Firefighters' Day Web site at www.iffd.net.

  • 25 Oct 03 - Annual Business Meeting
  • 1 Dec 02 - MFFMA proudly supported MADD's Annual Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope in St. Paul, MN.
  • 6 Oct 02 - National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend
  • 6 Oct 02 - MN Fire Memorial Service at the State Capitol, west of the Veterans Building by 12th Street. The event starts at 1100 and will include a ceremonial ground breaking for the future fire memorial to be built on the site. More events will follow on Harriet Island to kick of Fire Prevention week. For more information on this event and the planned memorial, see the Sep 2002 MSFCA Secretary Notes.
  • 29 Sep 02 - Pine City FD Annual "Jack Frost" Golf Tournament.
  • 20 Sep 02 - Firefighter Memorial Golf Tournament, Rochester, MN. Proceeds to go towards building a memorial to the three LODD Rochester firefighters. For more information, contact Pete Slavin at 507.282.6945.
  • 23 Aug 02 - Governor's Fire Safety Day at the Fair. Rather than repeat all the events going on that day, view the information at the MN State Fire Marshal's office web page.

    Note to Firefighters: Dust off your Class A uniform and come be part of the Flag Raising ceremony. The ceremony is at 10:30 a.m. for the flag raising featuring the Duluth Fire Department and Color Guard as well as Honor Guards from throughout the state at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell. The ceremony will include a special appearance by performance artist and painter Michael Israel, with a tribute to New York City firefighters. For more information, go to MN State Fair Web Site. Pass this information onto other MN Firefighters and Fire Departments. If you plan on attending, please arrive NLT 1015 at the administration office next to the bandshell.